THE SKIN AND IMMUNOSUPPRESSION

Abstract

Of 135 kidney allograft recipients twenty one (15.5%) developed a total of 84 malignant skin tumours from 4 to 115 months after transplantation. Seven of these patients also developed a total of 12 keratoacanthomas. Skin lesions due to viral, fungal and opportunistic organisms were prevalent but serious pyogenic skin infections were not increased. In contrast, of 50 patients on immunosuppressive therapy for glomerulonephritis or collagen diseases, only two had skin tumours; none of which were squamous cell carcinomas.